Clifford Smith Russell, III

Clifford Smith Russell, III, passed away peacefully at his home in Brandon, Miss., on Sept. 26, 2024, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Cliff was born in Marks, Miss., on Nov. 23, 1944, the son of the late Clifford Smith Russell, II, and Elizabeth Baird Russell.

Cliff grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where he and his brother, Robert, and their friends spent many happy days riding bikes, swimming, and playing sandlot baseball. He graduated from Gulfport High School in 1963. He attended Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi. He met his sweetheart, Linda Buckley of Cleveland, Miss., in the USM cafeteria and soon won her heart when he picked her up for dates in his navy blue Mustang. They were married on Nov. 22, 1966, and were blessed to share 57 years together.

After graduating from USM with a business degree in 1968, Cliff served his country as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force at Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, N.M. He then returned to school to earn his MBA from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1973. A lifelong learner, he also earned an accounting degree from Mississippi College in 1995. He retired from Eaton Aerospace in 2006 but continued working as a CPA for many more years. Cliff truly loved tax season, much to the relief of his family, friends, and several local businesses who called upon his services. He also treasured his many trips overseas with Linda.

Always curious and always active, he loved basketball, tennis, bike riding, taking family and friends out on his pontoon boat, and especially learning new things, most recently Spanish. He volunteered on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit with his wife Linda at the University of Mississippi Medical Center for 10 years, offering reassurance and prayers to patients who were traveling the same journey. He was a longtime member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Madison and later St. Paul Catholic Church in Flowood. He was a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus.

Cliff loved spending time with his family, especially his four grandchildren, who affectionately called him “Pop.” He is survived by his loving wife, Linda, of Brandon; daughters, Kelly Ingebretsen and her husband, Eric, of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Laura Pitre of Oxford, Miss.; his brother, Robert Russell and his wife, Bry, of Jackson, Miss.; granddaughter, Abagail Pitre Adcock and her husband, Tyler; grandsons, Jack and Ryan Ingebretsen, and Matthew Pitre; great granddaughter, Eleanor; niece, Amy Waring and her husband, Joe; nephew, Robby Russell, and his wife, Jesicca; aunt and uncle, Dr. John and Ruth Lynn Prados; cousins, Laura Prados, Beth Bowman and her husband, Fred, and Ann Lynch and her husband, Ashby; and many other loving family members and friends.

The family would like to thank the staff of the UMMC Bone Marrow Transplant Unit and Gentiva Hospice for their loving care. Visitation will be Monday, Sept. 30, at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. with lunch to follow. Interment will be held in West, Miss., at a later date with immediate family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Paul Catholic Church Capital Campaign, 5971 Lakeland Dr., Flowood, Miss. 39232, or a charity of your choice.